Oohs, ahhs and gasps followed by an enthusiastic round of applause filled the crowd of Rider fans who gathered to watch as a new statue was unveiled outside Mosaic Stadium on Thursday.

Located at the northeast commons, the statue is 18 feet tall and weighs 2,000 pounds. A football player wearing the number 13, sculpted out of a rare white bronze, reaches toward the sky to make a catch, but he can’t do it alone. Helping lift the player up are Rider fans, represented in an abstract cubism style.

“We wanted to represent achievement and inspiration — really striving for something big. And we also wanted to represent the fans,” said Gregg Sauter, vice-president of marketing and business development for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

The statue is accented with the colour green, which represents the Riders, but also the green prairies in summertime, said Sauter. The square base of the statue features an inscription: “As we evolve, we strive to soar higher; that soaring quest of our lives makes us who we are. In the act of sport, the fans create the lifting culture that unites us all and gives us a sense of togetherness, pride and belonging.”

A new statue at its unveiling by the Saskatchewan Roughriders Football Club and City of Regina.Michael Bell

The statue was designed and built by the fine art studio of Rotbaltt-Amrany, founded by Julie and Omri Amrany. The company has made statues of sports figures like Shaquille O’Neal, Michael Jordan, Gordie Howe and more. Sauter said the company was hired because it understood the great pride and support Rider fans have for their team.

People of all ages came out for the unveiling, taking photos of the statue and finding their names on the fan walls. People who donated to the Build the Pride Campaign were recognized by having their names etched onto the walls.

The three walls are 20 feet long and weigh up to 14 tons. The community fan wall includes images of Regina’s past and present etched into the granite. The indigenous wall features images that represent First Nations and Metis heritage, including the buffalo — an integral part of indigenous history. The third wall, dubbed the “future” wall, includes a finger print that creates a ripple effect across various physical states of water — from liquid to gas. It it supposed to represent the mark everyone leaves on the world.

At the end of the day however, the statue stole the show. Regina Mayor Michael Fougere said the art was even better than he imaged.

“It’s breathtaking. It’s a great testament to Rider Nation and the fans (who) support the team, the analogy is really quite beautiful,” said Fougere.

A new statue at its unveiling by the Saskatchewan Roughriders Football Club and City of Regina.Michael Bell

A new statue at its unveiling by the Saskatchewan Roughriders Football Club and City of Regina.Michael Bell

One of the fan walls at its unveiling by the Saskatchewan Roughriders Football Club and City of Regina.Michael Bell

A new statue is seen reflected in a fan wall at their unveiling by the Saskatchewan Roughriders Football Club and City of Regina.Michael Bell

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